OCPL Timeline

Library Timeline

1800s

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1820: Bookcase for the public available in the Salina town hall (now the First Ward Syracuse near Park St.)
- Post-Standard, June 2, 1935
newspaper clip art Newspaper clipping - Image 1

1830’s: Cabinet style bookcase with volumes to loan accessible in the vestry of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
- Post-Standard, Sept. 6, 1930
newspaper clip art Newspaper Advertisement
Newspaper Article

1849: Rev. Samuel May and others form the “Franklin Institute” and shortly have a reading room and 2,000 volumes available for members in the Malcolm Block along Salina St.
- 1940 Syracuse Public Library Annual Report

Franklin Institute Related Image 1
Franklin Institute Related Image 2

1852: “Central Library” proposed April 5 to be open to the general public as alternative to library “clubs”, school libraries, Franklin Institute, etc.
- Herald, April 5, 1932

1855: Syracuse Common Council ordered a bookcase March 25 and set May 1 as opening date for library room in City Hall
- Post-Standard, March 26, 1940

City Hall, Market Hall postcard image 1

1857: Different school library collections consolidated in one room at City Hall under the direction of the Superintendent of Schools, George Farnham
- 1923 Library Scrapbook

1858: First Central Library, John Strachan librarian, $300/yr.
- Herald, July 20, 1930

1863: Patrick McCarthy named librarian, expands collection with many quality books
- 1895 Annual Report

1869: Library moves to new high school on West Genesee Street located near present-day Fire Station 12
- Post-Standard, Sept. 6, 1930

1871: William McCarthy becomes librarian upon death of his father
- 1895 Annual Report

1872: John S. Clark named librarian
- 1895 Annual Report

1876: Mrs. Mary A. Gambia named librarian and serves through March 1879
- A History of the Schools of Syracuse by Edward Smith (1893)

An excerpt from "A History of the Schools of Syracuse"

1880: Ezekiel Mundy named head librarian
- Post-Standard, Sept. 6, 1930

newspaper clip art Information and Photo of Ezekiel Mundy

1880: 13,344 books in collection; 130 daily circulation
- Post-Standard, Sept. 6, 1930

1890: 21,541 books in collection; 145 daily circulation
- Post-Standard, Sept. 6, 1930

1893: Library receives charter with the corporate name of “Syracuse Central Library” from the New York State Regents, Common Council transfers books and funds from the old library along with former Putnam School building at Montgomery and Jefferson Sts. to the new entity
- Herald, July 20, 1930 p.3; 1923 Library Scrapbook

1894: Library moves to former Putnam School at the corner of Montgomery and Jefferson Sts.
- Herald, July 20, 1930

1894: City population 92,839; circulation 50,652; appropriation $4,948
- 1923 Library Scrapbook

1897: Syracuse Central Library recognized in the field of genealogy as “the only satisfactory library for that purpose outside of New York and Albany”
- Rochester Post-Express, May 12, 1897
newspaper clip art Newspaper Clipping - Image 1

1898: Two story, two room annex added to existing library
- 1898 Annual Report

1898: West End library “station”, the first of its kind in Syracuse, opens in Dr. Shoudy’s office at 1706 W. Genesee St. in March
- 1898 Annual Report

1898: Open shelf policy implemented in December allowing patrons to browse circulating collection
- 1898 Annual Report